I. Bilateral Political Relations

The People's Republic of China and the Republic of Moldova established diplomatic relations on January 30, 1992. In June of the same year, China opened its Embassy in Moldova, and in March 1996, Moldova set up its Embassy in China. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the bilateral political relations have been in smooth progress.

In November1992, Moldova President Mircea Snegur visited China at the invitation of President Yang Shangkun, and the two countries signed a joint statement and other eleven documents concerning the bilateral relations. In the joint statement, both sides indicated that they will develop their relations in accordance with the UN Charter and on the basis of the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence. The Government of Moldova recognizes that the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. Moldova affirms that it will not establish any official ties with Taiwan. China supports Moldova's efforts in consolidating its independence and state sovereignty.

In April 1995, Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen paid an official visit to Moldova. Moldova President Mircea Snegur, Prime Minister Andrei Sangheli and Speaker Petru Lucinschi met with him separately. Moldova Foreign Minister Mihai Popov held talks with Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen. The Moldova side expressed that Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen's visit to Moldova demonstrates China's support for the independence, state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova and its efforts to carry out reform. Moldova will continue to pursue the one-China policy, and will not have any official contacts with Taiwan in either bilateral or international relations. Vice Premier Qian expressed that the Chinese people respect the choice made by the people of Moldova, support the Government and people of Moldova in their efforts to safeguard national independence, state sovereignty and territorial integrity and to work for the stability and economic development of the country, and appreciate Moldova's stand for peaceful resolution of the relevant issues through negotiations. Vice Premier Qian remarked that China and Moldova share identical or similar views on a host of international issues, and hoped that both sides will continue to cooperate in the international affairs. Vice Premier Qian also expressed China's appreciation of Moldova's position on the Taiwan question.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) have frequently exchanged visits with the parliament of Moldova. In October 1994, the vice chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC Qian Zhengying visited Moldova. In March 1996, Moldova Parliament Speaker Peter Lucinschi visited China and in August the same year, NPC Standing Committee Vice Chairman Wu Jieping visited Moldova. The foreign ministries of the two countries have maintained regular consultations. In February 1993, Ion Botnaru, first deputy minister of the Moldova Foreign Ministry, visited China and in October the same year, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Tian Zengpei paid a visit to Moldova. In September 1994, Moldova Deputy Foreign Minister Burian visited China. In September 1996, Moldova Foreign Minister Mihai Popov visited China. The bilateral exchanges at the local level have been frequent, and the cooperation between the trade unions, youth and women organizations and friendship associations of the two countries has been carried out well. In June 2000, Moldova President Petru Lucinschi paid a state visit to China at the invitation of President Jiang Zemin. President Jiang Zemin held talks with President Lucinschi, and NPC Standing Committee Chairman Li Peng and Premier Zhu Rongji met separately with him. The leaders of the two countries had in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and international issues of common concern and reached extensive consensus. Moldova reiterated that it adheres to the one-China stand, will not set up official relations with Taiwan in any form nor have any official contacts, and will not support Taiwan's entry into the international organizations with membership of sovereign states only. The two sides signed the Sino-Moldova joint statement on the continued strengthening of comprehensive cooperation in the twenty-first century, the agreement on avoidance of double taxation of income and prevention of tax evasion, the agreement on civil air transport, the agreement on health and medical science, the agreement on cooperation in animal quarantine and health, and the agreement on cooperation in plant quarantine. In October, Wei Jianxing, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau and member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, paid an official visit to Moldova at the invitation of Moldova President Lucinschi. President Lucinschi, Speaker Diacov and Prime Minister Braghis met separately with him.

In June 2002, Gaiciuk, Minister of Defense of Moldova, visited China. From August 25 to September 1, Ostapciuc, Speaker of Moldova, visited China at the invitation of Li Ruihuan, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Consultative Conference. In September, Puscas, President of the Constitutional Court of Moldova, visited China.


II. Cultural Cooperation Between China and Moldova

In September 1993, Chinese Vice Cultural Minister Xu Wenbo visited Moldova. In November 1998, Moldova Cultural Minister Ghenadie Ciobanu visited China. In November 1992, China and Moldova signed the Agreement on Cultural Cooperation Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Moldova.

Later on, the two sides signed the programs of cultural cooperation for the periods of 1993 -1994, 1995 and 1996 -1998. In November 1998, China and Moldova signed the 1999-2001 program of cultural cooperation between the two cultural ministries.

Moldova has six government-sponsored students studying in China. China ahs about twenty students studying in Moldova at their own expenses, and one Chinese language teacher lecturing at the Moldova National University.


III. Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Moldova

In August 1998, the Sino-Moldova Economic and Trade Cooperation Committee was set up in Chisinau. The Chinese co-chairman was Han Tiecheng, deputy director of the Department of European Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of China, and the Moldova co-chairman was the director of the Bureau of External Economic Relations of the Ministry of Economy and Reform of Moldova.

The trade volumes in recent years between China and Moldova are as follows:

　　　　　　　　　1995　　　　　1996　　　　　1997　　　　　1998　　　　　1999

Total Volume　　1.29 million　　1.45 million　　1.15 million　　0.7 million　　0.38 million

Chinese Exp.　　0.92 million　　0.468 million　　0.35 million　　0.19 million　　0.38 million

Chinese Imp.　　0.37 million　　0.983 million　　0.8 million　　0.51 million　　　　　-

Note: In US Dollars

The important trade and economic agreements signed by China and Moldova are: the Economic and Trade Agreement Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Moldova, the Agreement on Encouragement and Mutual Protection of Investment Between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Moldova and the Banking Agreement Between the Bank of China and the State Bank of Moldova on the Payment and Settlement Procedures of Barter Trade Between Institutions of Foreign Trade of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Moldova.

In 2000, the trade volume between China and Moldova increased by a big margin to the amount of US$8.12 million, of which China's export was US$0.2 million and import US$7.92 million.

In September 2002, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade sponsored a large exhibition of Chinese commodities in Moldova. The second meeting of the Governmental Economic and Trade Mixed Commission of China and Moldova was held in Chisinau.


IV. Important Bilateral Agreements

Joint Communiqué of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Moldova

1. At the invitation of President Yang Shangkun of the People's Republic of China, President Mircea Snegur of the Republic of Moldova paid an official visit to the People's Republic of China from November 6 to 10, 1992. General Secretary Jiang Zemin, President Yang Shangkun and Premier Li Peng exchanged views separately with President Snegur on bilateral relations and international issues of common concern in a friendly and pragmatic atmosphere, and each side briefed the other on their domestic situation and development plans.

2. Both sides are of the view that the first meeting between the Chinese and Moldova high-ranking leaders is of great significance in that it has established the principles governing the mutual relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Moldova, and will promote the development of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries and contribute to the safeguarding of regional and world peace and security.

3. The People's Republic of China and the Republic of Moldova will develop their relations in accordance with the UN Charter and on the basis of the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence.

4. The two sides will promote the contacts between the two Governments and the governmental departments and non-government organizations of the two countries. The foreign ministries of the two countries will hold consultations on matters of common concern.

5. The two sides will carry out cooperation in political affairs, legislation, science and technology and culture on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.

6. Both sides maintain that economic cooperation and trade are an important component of the relations between the two countries. The two sides will try to look for new forms of economic cooperation and trade exchanges, giving priority to the development of cooperation in electronics, electrical machinery, meters and instruments, communications, agriculture, light industry and food processing. Each side will, under its law, create conditions to encourage the other side to invest on its own territory and protect the other side's investment. Both sides attach special importance to the cooperation in training experts in the economic departments and leading cadres and improving their professional capabilities.

7. The two sides will cooperate in environmental protection and rational use of natural resources. To this end, the two sides will enhance information exchange and strive to develop new areas of cooperation on the basis of mutual trust and equality and mutual benefit.

8. The Government of Moldova recognizes that the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. The Republic of Moldova affirms that it will not establish any official relations with Taiwan.

9. The People's Republic of China supports the Republic of Moldova in its efforts to consolidate independence and sovereignty.

10. The talks indicated that the two countries hold similar views on such fundamental issues of the contemporary world as peace and development, disarmament, prevention of arms race and opposition to hegemonism in international affairs. Both sides hold that every country has the right to choose its social system, ideology, economic mode and road of development according to its own conditions, and the differences in this regard should not become an obstacle to the development of normal relations and cooperation between countries. All countries, big or small, strong or weak, poor or rich, have the right to decide their own destiny, and have the equal right to the discussion and settlement of world affairs.

11. Both sides reiterated that they abide by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations; respect the universally accepted norms of international law; support the expanded role of the United Nations in the peaceful settlement of international disputes and regional conflicts and the safeguarding of world security; and stand for the establishment of a new just international political and economic order on the basis of the principles of peaceful co-existence and equality and mutual benefit.

12. Both sides state that the friendly cooperation between China and Moldova is not directed against any third country, and will not harm the interests of any third country.

(Signature)                              (Signature)

Yang Shangkun                           Mircea Snegur

President of the People's Republic of China    President of the Republic of Moldova

Beijing, November 7, 1992